The Hindu : Front Page : Flood warning issued in the Vaigai

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Saturday, Nov 04, 2006
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Flood warning issued in the Vaigai

Staff Reporter

Public Works Department has asked people to move to safer places

FULL FLOW: A view of the Vaigai dam. — PHOTO: G. KARTHIKEYAN

MADURAI : The first flood warning in five districts along the Vaigai river was issued on Friday evening when the water level in the Vaigai dam touched 66 feet.

The reduced inflow and a higher withdrawal from the dam delayed the water from touching 66 feet till 8 p.m. The outflow from the dam was 1841 cusecs.

The Public Works Department has warned the people living along the riverside and in low-lying areas in the five districts of Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram to move to safer places. They have also been advised to drive away all cattle from the riverbed and take away all their belongings.

The next warning will be issued when the level touched 68.5 feet. Water will be released from the dam after issuing the third and final warning as and when the level touches 69 feet.

Though 2958 cusecs of water is being let into the Vaigai dam from the Periyar reservoir, a major quantity of water is being released for irrigation.

Meanwhile, the level in the Periyar dam was also inching towards the first warning level of 134 feet. The water level stood at 132.80 feet as against permissible height of the dam of 136 feet. The total inflow was 3490 cusecs. The combined Periyar credit was 8366 mcft.

Rainfall

Meanwhile, rain has stopped in many catchment areas. Only six rain gauge stations registered showers, the highest in Sothuparai dam (24 mm). Rainfall at other places (in mm) is: Melur 16, Peranai 10, Idayapatti 9, Shanmuganadi 6 and Periyar dam 4.

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